Press Conference - UEFA Women's Champions League

by Ayrton Galea - 13th June 2012

This evening Birkirkara held a press conference about the hosting of the UEFA Women's Champions League 2012/13 Qualifying Round Mini-tournament.

Club President, Mr. Joe Zammit opened the conference by saying, “Today we received the news that UEFA chose our Club to host the UEFA Women's Champions League Qualifying Round Mini-Tournament in Malta. This means that three other women teams that won the league in their country will be coming to Malta and together with Birkirkara will be playing the first round on our Island.

“Without any doubt this is a big honour to our Club because this will be the first time that Maltese football will be organising this event. The idea to enter for this big commitment was born following winning another league and we decided to request UEFA to be considered this year to organize the preliminary round ourselves.

“There's no doubt that it wasn't easy to enter for an event like this alone, because you need the structural facilities, you need finances to host three foreign teams, with expenses of hotels and transport besides other things. From today, we are starting to organise because time is against us but I'm convinced that with the help of my team-mates we are going to honour Malta by assuring that this will be a success.

“I wish that first of all thank the Malta Football Association, who since we showed our wish to hold this first round, we found total help and I'm sure that if it wasn't for them we would not have this good news today. The full support by the MFA was vital, first and foremost when from the start it assured us of the use of its facilities, if we would be selected by UEFA. I want to give a special thanks to the MFA President, Mr. Norman Darmanin Demajo and the CEO Mr. Bjorn Vassallo for their continuous support.

“I cannot but mention as well the National Coach of the women's football team, Mr. Pierre Brincat. He was enthusiastic about this idea and that step by step he's managing to increase the general level of women football in Malta and as well on international note, as recently we climbed up six positions in the FIFA rankings.

“A special thanks goes to those who work a lot every day with our players and that they were decisive to win many honours to the Club. I'm referring to Mr. Tommy Camilleri, Ms. Tracy Camilleri and the other members that lead the Women's sector and as well to Coach Mr. Johann Scicluna. As happens always, the principal focus of the Club is the First Team. It would be shame if there weren't persons who are dedicated like these mentioned with the Women's Team, that enabled UEFA to give us this special honour today. Thank you.

“As said earlier an event like this requires a considerable amount of finances to host close to hundred people in Malta for a number of days. These expenses must be covered by our Club immediately, even if UEFA will compensate some of the costs in the future. Surely if it wasn't for the help of the Good Causes Fund, thanks to the Minister Ministry of Finance, Economy and Investment then we couldn't have taken this substantial commitment.

“In my name and the in name of our Club I want to thank Minister Mr. Tonio Fenech for his help through this fund that has helped a lot the Maltese sport. This isn't the first time that Minister Mr. Tonio Fenech helped our Club. In fact every time we asked for his helped, he helped us with open arms to achieve our projects. This happened from the beginning of this fund, and has helped us with the infrastructure of the Infetti Grounds and in activities when we hosted important clubs like Milan and others.

“Thanks Minister Mr. Tonio Fenech the Karkarizi are grateful for the help that you always gave to Birkirkara when there was a need. In the end I want to wish the best to our players for this preliminary round so that this event will be a true success!”

The Hon. Minister Mr. Tonio Fenech said, “I want to congratulate Birkirkara FC for winning the bid to host this tournament. The tournament in itself is important for the sporting sector, but in a particular way for Women's football, which coincides with our effort in promoting Women's football.

“This is an appreciation by UEFA of our improvement, especially by Birkirkara that can be described as dominant in their league. When Birkirkara approached me for this bid I gave my full support from the beginning. For this type of commitment there was need for certainty when it comes to availability of hotels, grounds and obviously finances, especially in this busy period for our island.

“The Good Causes Fund gave its commitment because we believe that it's a good cause. If there had to be a similar event for men's football there would be a lot of help from the sponsors, but for Women's football it's more difficult. This is an activity that can attract tourists' interest in our island, and we also want to invite more women to interest themselves and participate in this game. We also urge the Club to invite girls and schools to the event, to gain more interest and to see bigger crowds at the stadiums.

“These matches will have free entrance, so we encourage people to support Birkirkara who can have the advantage of playing home while encouraging the organisers of this event to give their best.

“I conclude by wishing well the Birkirkara FC Women's Team for this preliminary round while hoping for good performances.”

Club President Mr. Joe Zammit added, “The draws will be held on Thursday 28 June and the sub-committee that was set up for this event will be present. I want to thank last year's committee, which is almost identical to this year's committee, for supporting this event by taking the necessary risk.”

He concluded by saying “We hope that this will be the foundation stone for other teams to strengthen our game while serving as an advertisement for our beloved island”.

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